WO2008000972A2

WO2008000972A2 - Wire gondola

Info

Publication number: WO2008000972A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/001110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benoît WIBAUX
Original assignee: Hmy Gestion
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2007-06-29
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: PT2034871T; FR2902987A1; ES2626267T3; EP2034871B1; EP2034871A2; WO2008000972A3; FR2902987B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a gondola for displaying articles, used especially in shops, comprising at least two vertical uprights (7, 9) connected to base feet (11) which ensure they are held in position, the uprights (7, 9) having a front face (3) and a rear face (5), of which at least one is designed to receive brackets (13) extending perpendicularly towards the outside of the gondola (1), the combination of two brackets (13) joined at the same height on the front faces (21) or on the rear faces (23) of the two successive uprights (7, 9) permitting the support of a shelf (15) on which the articles are disposed, characterized in that each upright (7, 9) comprises at least two upright structures (33, 35, 53, 55) constituting respectively the front face (21) and the rear face (23) of the upright (7, 9), said structures being arranged opposite each other and being strengthened by at least one rigid wire structure (37, 39, 63), said wire structure (37, 39, 63) reinforcing the inertia of said uprights (7, 9), the upright structures (33, 35, 53, 55) being U-shaped, the bottom of the U (49) having apertures designed to receive the brackets (13), the lateral edges (45, 46, 47, 48) of the upright structures (33, 35, 53, 55) being reinforced by the wire structure (37, 39, 63).

Description

GONDOLE FILAIRE

The present invention relates to a gondola for the traffic of articles. It will notably find its application in the stores and will be implemented at the manufacturers of furniture for the large distribution. The gondolas consist in particular of vertical uprights, for example two, three or four uprights aligned longitudinally or on the rear face of said gondola, when it comprises only one face, or in the central part of said gondola, when it comprises a front face and a rear face. The amounts are either secured to a base plate or each provided with one or two base legs, allowing their stable maintenance and vertical position.

These amounts receive on their front face and possibly on their rear face, when it is a double-sided gondola, consoles that extend perpendicular to the uprights, to the outside of the gondola. The combination of two adjacent consoles, and arranged at the same height on one side, allows the support of a shelf on which the articles rest.

The gondola uprights are constituted by tubular structure, generally of square or rectangular section. These amounts are subjected to bending stress due to the weight exerted by the items placed on the shelves. This mechanical stress is generally compensated by increasing the thickness and section of the tubular structure. This has the critical disadvantage of increasing the amount of material used to implement the amounts, and thus increase the price and weight of the gondola.

Furniture shelves are known which have the advantage of using the wire structure to design the elements of the shelf furniture. This is the case in US Pat. No. 4,391,378 and JP 5095828. This design has the considerable advantage of reducing the amount of material required and the weight of the furniture. However, the designs described in these patents are furniture four vertical uprights mutually supporting one or more planes, said amounts working essentially in compression. Their design is not suitable for gondolas which have only vertical uprights aligned longitudinally at the rear or central portion of said gondolas, said uprights working mainly in bending and being arranged to receive brackets for the support of the shelves. This mechanical constraint is all the stronger as the gondolas have high dimensions compared to the furniture described in US Pat. Nos. 4,391,378 and JP 5095828, and they must withstand a large quantity of articles, in particular in large commercial surfaces. This has the effect of considerably increasing the load exerted on said gondolas, hence a need to increase their inertia.

DE 9001695 discloses a structure for the presentation of goods comprising two vertical uprights interconnected by a grid and to support two shelves.

US Pat. No. 4,292,902 describes a tablet system specially designed for installation in enclosed spaces such as carriages. These last two documents do not describe vertical uprights each provided with two U-shaped structures, the lateral edges of the structure being reinforced by a wire structure.

The main object of the present invention is to reduce considerably the amount of material used to design a gondola, which has the immediate effect of reducing its mass and especially its manufacturing cost, especially at a time when the costs of raw materials, including steel, have risen sharply . For this, the invention aims to focus primarily on the use of wire structure for the design of all gondola elements.

Another aim is to reinforce the mechanical inertia of the uprights to increase their resistance to flexural stresses due to the load of articles exposed on the shelves, towards the front or the rear of the gondola. Thus, the gondola according to the invention does not require increasing the thickness and the section of the uprights to reinforce their mechanical inertia.

The invention also aims to improve the visual quality of items exposed on the gondola, significantly reducing the massive appearance of the latter and concealing, as much as possible, the gondola elements, in favor of said items.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a gondola for the use of articles, particularly usable in stores, comprising at least two vertical uprights secured to the base legs which ensure their retention in position, the uprights comprising a front face and a rear face, at least one of which is arranged to receive brackets which extend perpendicularly towards the outside of the gondola, the association of two consoles assembled at the same height on the front faces or on the rear faces of the two uprights successive ones allowing the support of a shelf on which the articles are arranged. Said gondola is remarkable in that each upright comprises at least two stud structures respectively constituting the front face and the rear face of the upright, said upright structures being disposed opposite and consolidated by at least one rigid wire structure, said wire structure reinforcing the inertia of said uprights, the upright structures being U-shaped, the bottom of the "U" comprising orifices arranged to receive the consoles, the lateral edges of the upright structures being reinforced by the wire structure.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will appear on reading the following description based on figures showing a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the elements of the gondola, among which:

FIG. 1 represents the constituent elements of a gondola according to the invention, seen in perspective,

FIG. 2 represents a first embodiment of the vertical uprights, seen in perspective,

FIG. 3 represents a second embodiment of the vertical uprights, seen in perspective, FIG. 4 represents an embodiment of a console, seen in perspective,

FIG. 5 represents an embodiment of a shelf, seen in perspective,

- Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a base foot, seen in perspective.

The gondola 1 for the traffic of articles, according to the invention, will find particular application in stores such as large commercial areas. The gondola 1 may comprise a single front face, this embodiment being in particular provided for the gondolas adjoining a wall surface. More generally, the gondolas comprise a front face 3 and a rear face 5, as shown in FIG. 1. These gondolas 1 are generally aligned longitudinally to build the shelves in the store.

As shown in Figure 1, the gondola 1 comprises at least two vertical uprights 7, 9, at least two base legs 11, at least two brackets 13 and at least one shelf 15. The uprights 7, 9 are vertical solidarity the base legs 11. These base legs 11 ensure the maintenance of said uprights in a stable and vertical position. They are attached to the lower ends of the uprights 7, 9 and extend perpendicularly thereto, in the transverse direction of the gondola 1. According to a design, each upright 7, 9 comprises a single foot of base 11 when the gondola 1 has only one face 3, and comprises two base legs 11 when the gondola has two front faces 3 and rear 5. However, we can design a single base foot that s' extends on both sides of the upright 7, 9, forwards and backwards, when the gondola 1 has two faces. The base legs 11 may be concealed under a covering and serve as a support for a low shelf 17 so as to form a base base 19 as shown in Figure 1.

The vertical uprights 7, 9 comprise a front face 21 and a rear face 23, at least one of which is arranged to receive brackets 13. Indeed, when the gondola 1 is single face, only the front face 21 requires be arranged to receive the consoles 13, while for the double-sided gondolas, the front face 21 and the rear face 23 need to be arranged. In the remainder of the description, the gondola 1 described will preferably consist of two front 3 and rear 5 faces. The gondola may also comprise two longitudinal high and low 27 bars for reinforcing the stability of said gondola.

The consoles 13 are assembled on the front face 21 23 and rear of the uprights 7, 9, and extend perpendicularly to the outside of the gondola away from said uprights 7, 9. The combination of two consoles 13, arranged on the same face 21 of two uprights 7, 9 successive and at the same height, allows the support of a shelf 15 on which are arranged articles.

In a preferred embodiment, the brackets 13, shown in FIG. 4, comprise hook-shaped lugs 29 and the front and rear faces 23 comprise orifices 31 intended to receive said lugs 29.

Each upright 7, 9 comprises at least two upright structures 33, 35, as shown in FIG. 2. These structures 33, 35 are arranged facing each other and constitute the front face 21 and the rear face 23 of the upright. 7, 9. These structures 33, 35 are provided with orifices 31 spaced over their entire height to allow the assembly of the consoles 13 on several levels, said orifices 31 receiving the legs 29 of said brackets 13. These structures 33, 35 are consolidated by at least one rigid wire structure 37, 39, each wire structure 37, 39 being disposed between said structures 33, 35. This wire structure 37 reinforces the inertia of the uprights, which makes it possible to maintain a constant thickness and section of the upright , capable of supporting a wide range of items whose load can vary greatly. The structures 33, 35 are preferably made of sheet metal. However, we can consider the use of composite materials or other for their design. Similarly, one can consider the use of a composite material structure incorporating a reinforcing wire mesh.

According to a preferred mode of design represented in 2, the upright 7, 9 comprises at least two wire structures 37, 39. The wire structures 37 and 39 have the shape of a broken line whose angular ends 41, 43 are secured to the lateral edges 45, 46 , 47, 48 and vis-à-vis the two post structures 33, 35. For this the structure 33, 35 has the shape of a "U". The bottom of the "U" 49 comprises orifices 31 as described above, intended to receive the tabs 29 of the brackets 13. The lateral sides of the "U" 51, 52 constitute respectively the lateral edges 45, 46 of the structure 33 and the side edges 47, 48 of the structure 35. These lateral sides 51, 52 are welded with the angular ends 41, 43 of the wire structures 37, 39. Thus, the two structures 33, 35, shaped "U", are arranged facing each other, and the lateral sides vis-à-vis are welded with the wire structure 37, 39, preferably on the inner faces of the structure "U". The use of wire-shaped structures 37, 39 in the form of broken lines, consolidated between the two structures 33, 35 makes it possible to create shutters which reinforce the lateral edges 45, 46, 47, 48 of said structures 33, 35, thus increasing the inertia amounts 7, 9 and therefore their resistance to bending stresses exerted by the weight of the articles.

According to a variant of design shown in FIG. 3, the upright 7, 9 consists of two U-shaped structures 53, 55 constituting the front face 21 and the rear face 23 of the upright 7, 9, said faces being provided with The amount 7, 9 further comprises two flat structures 59, 61 constituting the lateral sides of the upright 7, 9. These are integral with the two structures 53, 55 and keep them in vis-à-vis. These two flat structures 59, 61 are thin and contribute to the rigidity of the amount. However, the amount 7, 9 is consolidated by means of rigid wire structures 63 arranged in the inner corners 65 of the structures 53, 55 in the shape of a "U". This design also makes it possible to reinforce the mechanical inertia on the lateral edges of the "U" -shaped structure 53, 55 and thus to compensate for the bending forces exerted towards the front or towards the rear of the upright. The planar structures 59, 61 are preferably made of the same material as the "U" shaped structures 53, 55.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 13 consists of a plate 67 arranged to be fixed on the front face 21 or on the rear face 23 of the upright 7, 9, and of a reinforced arm 69 in a rigid wire structure, said arm 69 being fixed at its rear end with the plate 67. The plate 67 is provided at its rear end with hook-shaped lugs 29 which fit into the orifices on the "U" -shaped structure. The arm 69 comprises an upper wire portion 71 and a lower wire portion 73. With reference to FIG. 4, the upper wire portion 71 is of rigid linear shape adapted to receive a shelf 15. The lower portion 73 is of rigid curved shape of so that the height separating the rear ends 75, 77 of the two parts 71, 73 corresponds to the height of the plate 67, and that the front end 79 of the lower part 73 joins the front end 81 of the upper part 71. The upper part 71 and the lower part 73 are welded together at their front end 79, 81 and have their rear end 75, 77, respectively welded to the upper ends 83 and lower 85 of the plate 67. The two parts 71, 73 are consolidated by means of a wired structure 87 in broken line. This design is particularly adapted to compensate for the bending stresses exerted on said arm 69, and considerably reduces the mass of the console 13, unlike the consoles of the prior art which consist of a flat steel sheet formatted by cutting.

The association of two consoles 13 adjacent, arranged on the same side of two vertical uprights 7, 9 successive, allows the support of a shelf 15 on which are arranged the articles. As shown in FIG. 5, the shelf 15 consists of a structure, preferably made of sheet metal, of small thickness, semi-rigid, forming a plane of display 89. The display plane 89 is preferably folded over its four edges to form a peripheral contour 91. This peripheral contour 91 has the advantage of concealing the upper portion 71 of the bracket 13 resting on the lower face 93 of the plane 89. The plane 89 is reinforced on its lower face 93 by the less a rigid wire structure 95, and preferably two rigid wire structures 95, 97, shown in Figure 5, which are arranged in the direction of the length of the plane 89. These rigid wire structures 95, 97 can compensate the fine thickness of the plane 89 to prevent it from bending under the load of articles. This design of the shelf 15 thus contributes to reducing the amount of material used for the manufacture of the gondola 1.

The base foot 11 is composed of at least one rigid wire structure 99 forming the contour of the foot, the latter being reinforced by a wire structure 101 arranged in broken line, welded to the upper part 103 and the lower part 105 said contour. The foot 11 also consists of a fixing plate 107 arranged to be fixed to the lower end of the upright 7, 9, said plate 107 being disposed at the rear of the structure wired 99 and secured thereto. As shown in Figure 6, the foot 11 is preferably provided with two wire structures 99, 109 juxtaposed forming the contour, said structures 99, 109 being consolidated by the plate 107 disposed at their rear end, and by rigid son 111 welded transversely between the two wire structures 99, 109, in the upper part 103 and lower 105.

The base leg 11 is provided with at least one stabilizing piece 113 on the floor of the store, and preferably two stabilizing pieces 113, 115, as shown in FIG. 6. The stabilizing piece 113 is for example constituted a small threaded plate 117, fixed at the bottom 105 of the two wire structures 99, 109, said threaded plate 117 receiving a threaded rod 119 provided at its lower end with a contact roller 121 on the ground, said threaded rod 119 to adjust the position of the roller 121 so that the foot 11 is perfectly stable on the ground.

The fixing plate 107 comprises, for example, a lower fixing lug 123 which is bent at its lower end 125 and is fixed on a lateral side 51, 52 of the sheet metal structure 33, 35, and an upper attachment lug 127 which is insert in a hole 31 at the lower end of the front face 21 or rear 23 of the structure 33, 35.

The gondola 1 may optionally be equipped with at least one intermediate vertical panel 129, shown in FIG. 1, when it has a front face 3 and a rear face 5. The panel 129 thus makes it possible to separate the two faces 3, 5 of the gondola to make them distinct and thus highlight the items exposed on the shelf 15. The gondola is in a preferred and non-limiting mode consisting entirely of metal such as steel. However, it is possible to envisage gondola elements made of different materials, for example a polymer.

The invention will be manufactured especially in the metallurgical industry, steel structure designers and furniture for large distribution.

Claims

1 - Gondola (1) for the use of articles, particularly usable in stores, comprising at least two vertical uprights (7, 9) integral with base legs (11) which ensure their maintenance in position, the amounts ( 7, 9) comprising a front face (3) and a rear face (5), at least one of which is arranged to receive brackets (13) which extend perpendicularly towards the outside of the gondola (1), the combination of two consoles (13) assembled at the same height on the front faces (21) or on the rear faces (23) of the two successive uprights (7, 9) allowing the support of a shelf (15) on which are arranged the articles, characterized in that each post (7, 9) comprises at least two post structures (33, 35, 53, 55) constituting respectively the front face (21) and the rear face (23) of the post (7, 9), said post structures (33, 35, 53, 55) being arranged facing each other and consolidated by at least one wire structure r igide (37, 39, 63), said wire structure (37, 39, 63) reinforcing the inertia of said uprights (7, 9), the upright structures (33, 35, 53, 55) being U-shaped The bottom of the "U" (49) comprising orifices arranged to receive the brackets (13), the lateral edges (45, 46, 47, 48) of the upright structures (33, 35, 53, 55) being reinforced by the wire structure (37, 39, 63).

2 - Gondola (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each rigid wire structure (37, 39) is disposed between the upright structures (33, 35). 3 - Gondola (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upright (7, 9) comprises at least two wire structures (37, 39) in the form of a broken line whose angular ends (41, 43) are secured to the side edges (45, 46, 47, 48) vis-à-vis the two post structures (33, 35).

4 - Gondola (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lateral sides of the "U" (51, 52) are welded with the angular ends (41, 43) of the wire structures (37, 39).

5 - Gondola (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid wire structure (63) is arranged in the inner corners (65) of the post structures (53, 55).

6 - Gondola (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bracket (13) consists of a fixing plate (67) arranged to be fixed on the front face (21) or the rear face (23) a post (7, 9), and a reinforced arm (69) rigid wire structure, said arm (69) being attached at its rear end with the plate (67).

7 - Gondola (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shelf (15) consists of a structure (89) reinforced on its underside (93) by at least one rigid wire structure ( 95, 97).

8 - Gondola (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base foot (11) consists of at least one wire structure rigid (99, 109) and reinforced, and a fixing plate (107) arranged to be fixed to the lower end of the upright (7, 9), said plate (107) being arranged at the rear of the structure wired (99, 109) which is provided with at least one stabilizing piece (113) on the floor of the store.

9 - Gondola (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a front face (3) and a rear face (5), said faces (3, 5) being separated by at least one panel vertical intermediate (129).